Dodge vs. Parry

[gretchen]

Can anyone please detail what circumstances one would prefer to be doing one or the other? I have only found bits and scraps and opinions that confused me further. I know you can toggle these two modes but I don't know what that *means* as far as the effect or desired effect on gameplay.

Thanks!

[akicks]

Can anyone please detail what circumstances one would prefer to be doing one or the other? I have only found bits and scraps and opinions that confused me further. I know you can toggle these two modes but I don't know what that *means* as far as the effect or desired effect on gameplay.

Thanks!

You want to do the one that is highest.

If you are doing melee then this is usually parry, but if you are a much higher level in one melee tree over another then it could be dodge.

If you are doing ele then it is (usually) best to dodge. (unless you are the same level in close combat, then I would think dodge and parry for ele would be close).

[sehracii]

Which one is higher is a bit complicated. Luckily, you don't need to know how its determined!

Also, dodge/parry function identically/equally well regardless of what you are fightigna gainst.

So you simply want to use the higher value at any point in time. To determine which is higher, just look at the P (identity) screen. It will list your parry value and dodge value, and you set yourself to the higher one. Be aware it will change if you change any equipment you're using, so keep an eye on it.


If I get a few extra minutes I'll come back and explain where the values come from.

[gretchen]

thanks for the information! Been digging around and reading a lot and it was one area I really was coming up blank.

[fuzzles]

A lot of weapons have dodge/parry modifiers to your target. My pike gives my enemy a bonus to dodge, but penalty to parry. It seems that someone wearing heavy armor and have a low dodge/high parry, would be better off actually trying to dodge my pike.

Do mobs have these negative modifiers as well? Will some mobs increase/decrease your dodge/parry?

[sehracii]

A lot of weapons have dodge/parry modifiers to your target. My pike gives my enemy a bonus to dodge, but penalty to parry. It seems that someone wearing heavy armor and have a low dodge/high parry, would be better off actually trying to dodge my pike.

In theory, yes. But its really only applicable if your opponents dodge and parry values are close too equal. If you consider their 2H weapon will be increasing their parry and decreasing their dodge values, that's unlikely. And if it's a 1-hand meleer, their shield will bring parry way beyond dodge. Only possible situation would be a dual wielder, as 1H weapons have no modifiers.

Do mobs have these negative modifiers as well? Will some mobs increase/decrease your dodge/parry?

Honestly, we don't know. There's no way to tell besides getting hit 1000 times with equal values in each mode and see if there's a difference in the hit percentage.
My guess is they have no modifiers.

[sehracii]

How your dodge and parry values are calculated:

Dodge:
This is the simpler value. Your base dodge value at all times is equal to your highest combat level. And by combat, I mean anything from the fight or magic skill trees. Ranged, healing, etc, all count. If your highest combat lvl is lvl 200 healing, your base dodge will be 200. From there, its simply modifed up and down from your equipment. Armor can have + and - dodge modifiers per piece, anbd two-handed weapons will usually hvea negative dodge mod (or 0) One-handed weapons, amps, guns all have no mods, currently. Shields will however have negative dodge, or 0.

Note: In very rare cases, your dodge could be based on your harvest or craft lvl. If your harvest or craft is much much higher, your base dodge will be half of that level. Say your best combat is 75 2H melee, but you're lvl 200 in harvest. You will have a base dodge of 100. As the combat only gets you a base 75, half your harvest is higher. But that's rather uncommon.

Parry:
Your base parry value is more variable. Simply put, it is your level in the melee weapon you are holding at the given instant. If You're holding a 2H axe, your base parry is your 2H axe fight level. If you switch to a 1H axe, your base parry switches to your lvl in 1H axe. If you are wearing amps, holding a gun, holding a pick or craft tool, or not holding any item at all your base parry is your lvl in hand-to-hand combat (same as Close Combat below lvl 150)

From there, basically it is modifed by equipment all the same ways dodge is. Armor can have + or - parry mods. 2H weapons will improve it, 1H, amps, guns, will have no effect. Shields and bucklers have very large parry modifiers.




That's probably the long explanation, but I was trying to be complete. Feel free to ask more questions!

[gretchen]

very complete and helpful! That needs to be in a FAQ someplace.